Effects of low-level tragus stimulation on endothelial function in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is associated with a 50% mortality within 5 years.1 Development of novel treatment strategies is imperative to improve clinical outcomes. HFrEF is associated with sympathovagal imbalance leading to inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction (EnD).2-6 Both macrovascular EnD and microcirculatory impairment are common in HFrEF.4,7 Direct vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) studies in HFrEF have yielded mixed results.8 Transcutaneous stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN), which innervates the tragus, has emerged as an alternative to direct VNS.

Source: Journal of Cardiac Failure - December 30, 2020 Category: Cardiology Authors: Tarun W. Dasari, Tamas Csipo, Faris Amil, Agnes Lipecz, Gabor A. Fulop, Yunqiu Jiang, Rajesh Samannan, Sarah Johnston, Yan D. Zhao, Federico Silva-Palacios, Stavros Stavrakis, Andriy Yabluchanskiy, Sunny S. Po Source Type: research